Filament feed bowl



Dec. 24, 1963 K. DICK ETAL.

FILAMENT FEED BOWL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 11. 1957 R Pa wwMm H INVENTORS HERBERT A. D/LK Auausr 5. 1m ems 5Y8 Ml/EL E. swanATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 11. 1957 INVENTORS HERBERTK DICK 11060375. KULBERG BY SAM L 5. smszr A ORNEY Dec. .24, 1963 H. K.DICK ETAL FILAMENT FEED BOWL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Oct. 11.1957 INVEN TORS HRBRT K. om 41/67/37 5. Kl/LBL'RG BY s/mua E. SWASEYATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1963 H. K. DICK ETAL FILAMENT FEED BOWL 5 Sheets-Sheet4 Original Filed Oct. 11, 1957 INVENTORS HKBRT K 010x AUGUST 5 lruwma BySAMUEL E. swnssy ATTOK/Vf) umu Il hl "Dec. 24,1963 H. K. blcK ETALFILAMENT FEED BOWL Original Filed Oct. 11. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5|Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII III!!! IllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII" IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII llIlII-IIIIIHIIl/ll/III64 385 ul.l.lfl *7 w LL-Jil -72 INVENTORS HERBERT K. 01 K AUGUJT E.KULBERG SAMUEL E. SWASEY ,4 TI'UKIVEY Patented Dec. 24, 1963 3,115,233FELAMENT FEED BOWL Herhert K. Dick, South Lyunlield, August E. Kulherg,Beverly, and Samuel E. Swasey, Marhlehead, Mass, assignors, by mesneassignments, to Sylvania Electric Products lncu, Wilmington, DeL, acorporation of Delaware Original application Oct. ll, 1957, Ser. No.689,521, new Patent No. 3,03%,719, dated May 29, 1962. Divided and thisapplication Dec. 21, 1951, Ser. No. 1685M 3 Claims. (til. 198-453) Thisinvention relates to a device for successively transferring lampfilaments first from a random mass into a reservoir and thence into areceiver associated with a lamp stem assembling machine.

The problem of bringing lamp filaments into assembled position upon thelamp stern has long bothered the industry chiefly because of the factthat the filaments are very small and so flexible as to be limp. Forexample coil filaments having outside diameters ranging from .0635 to.050" and lengths in the order of 40 mm. to 50 mm. are commonly em loyedin commercial lamps. At first it was necessary that each filament bepicked up with hand tweezers and manually assembled; the hand process isstill in use to a limited extent but has been supplemented by machineryexemplified by the disclosure of Patent No. 2,597,354, H. B. Maloneyissued May 20, 1952, for example.

The present invention has for its principal object to improve theefficiency of filament transfer and feeding,

with a view to increasing the speed of operation and decreasing thefailures encountered in practice.

An important feature of the invention resides in the combination of avibrating bowl feeder having its delivery end coupled to a springmounted block containing a reservoir for filaments and means forautomatically returning to the bowl filaments delivered in excessivequantities. In axial alignment with the reservoir is a receiverassociated with the lamp stern assembly machine, and a carriage, mountedto slide parallel to the axes of the reservoir and receiver, is equippedwith cam operated gripping fingers by means of which filaments aresuccessively gripped and drawn into position on the receiver.

The spring mounting of the block is arranged to impart to the oncomingfilaments motion primarily in axial translation, thus tending topreserve desired orientation of the filaments and avoiding the stoppagesresulting from the tangling of misaligned filaments.

Moreover, the difficulties encountered in the past which stemmed fromthe limp and flexible character of the filaments are avoided inaccordance with the present invention by virtue of the fact that eachfilament is gripped near its extremity and trailed axially from thereservoir to the receiver.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be morereadily understood and appreciated from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment selected for purposes ofillustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a filament feeding and transfer deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device showing the cam controlleddriving means,

FlG. 3 as a plan view on a larger scale of a portion of the device,

FIG. 4 is a view in cross section along the line 44 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a spring mounted block containing the reservoirand the return chute, o her portions of the device having been removedfor purposes of illustration,

FIG. 6 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the discharge end of thebowl feeder, showing also filaments at different levels in the bowlfeeder.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the device illustrated inthe drawings it is deemed appropriate first to describe in a general waythe most important operating instrumentalities and their functions. InFIG. 1 there is shown a vibrating bowl feeder 32 of substantiallyconventional type, generally known in the trade as a Syntron feeder. Thefeeder 32 has a delivery channel 33 coupled through an intermediateL-shaped block 44 to a second block Sll best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 andcontaining a concave elongated trough 52 into which filaments aresuccessively introduced. As best shown in FIG. 1 there is a receiverZltl having filament receiving jaws in alignment with a long axis of thetrough 52. A gripping finger assembly 74 is mounted on a carriage ld iarranged to slide between the trough and the receiver Zltl, the grippingfingers 74 being actuated first to pick up the extremity of a singlefilament in the trough and trail it into position on the jaws of thereceiver Zltl. While the carriage is bringing the gripping fingers backto seize another filament from the trough 52, the receiver 210 carriesthe first filament into a lamp stern assembling machine (not shown). Thereceiver 210 may be of the type shown in the aforementioned patent toMaloney for example.

The structure by means of which the principal instrumentalities of thedevice are operated will now be described. As shown in FIG. 1 themachine includes a relatively massive base it) upon which is mounted apost or pedestal 12 forming support for a main frame 1% upon which theelements of the device are assembled. A fiat horizontal plate 16disposed at the junction of the pedestal 12 and the frame 14 serves tosupport a vibratory feeder lil, the latter being carried on theconventional spring mounting 2%! supported by an adjustable post 22threaded through the plate 16. The plate 16 is further supported bymeans of a stout post 24 mounted on a bracket 26 affixed to the baseIll.

The construction of the vibrating bowl type feeder will not be describedinasmuch as it is a standard piece of equipment readily obtainable onthe market and not forming any part of the present invention.Surrounding the upper portion of the bowl 32 of the feeder 18 is a table23 supported by a stanchion 3d bolted to the plate 16. A transparentcover 34 is pivotally mounted at 35 upon the table 28 and is providedwith a knob 33 by means of which it may be swung to and from the bowl32. Within the bowl 32 is the customary inclined spiral ramp 36 uponwhich the filaments are caused to travel as a result of the movement ofthe bowl. The ramp 36 terminates at the upper periphery of the bowl 252in a delivery channel 38.

It should be pointed out here that one of the difiiculties encounteredin the handling of lamp filaments is their tendency to agglomerate intotangled masses, a characteristic which has at times impeded theoperation of the bowl feeder. It has been found that, in the case ofrelatively long filaments of very small diameter, improved results aresecured if at the bottom of the bowl there is provided a plurality ofvertical baffies such as shown at at in FIGS. 1, 3 and S. The filamentsare shown at 42 in various positions within the bowl feeder. The preciseaction of the baffles id is not understood, and their exact locationscannot therefore be accurately prescribed. However, it appears that thebaffles should be dispersed about the bottom of the bowl in non-radialorientation, as best illustrated in FIG. 1.

Coming now to the portion of the machine in which the filaments areassembled in aligned relation for transfer to the receiver, there isprovided an L-shaped block 44 secured to the bowl feeder by means of aleaf spring 46 bolted to the block 44 and to the feeder bowl 32. Cutinto the block 44 is a thin channel as precisely aligned with thedelivery channel 38. Bolted to the end of the L-shaped block 44 is ablock 5%, best shown in F568. 4 and 5. The block 5-5 is provided on itsupper face with an elongated concave trough 521 long enough toaccommodate a filament 42 and deep enough to contain several filaments.The concave trough 52 does not occupy the entire top of the block 50 butterminates at an intermediate point in a raised portion leading to asecond and smaller concavity 54 in alignment with the end of the channel46 in the block 44. Back of the concavity 54 is a rearwardly anddownwardly inclined surface as leading to a chute 58 suspended over thebowl 32.

The purpose of the inclined surface 56 and the chute 58 is to provide apath for the return of excess filaments 69. They drop into the bowl 32and in the course of time are again caused to travel up the ramp intothe delivery channel Bolted to the front face of the block St) is aplate 62 which hangs below the block St). A vertical plate 64 is boltedto a bracket 63 secured to the frame l4 (see H65. 4 and 5). The verticalplate 64 carries a stop bolt 66 which may be screwed in or out to bearupon the inner surface of the plate 62. A tension spring 65, connectsplate 62 with plate 64 to hold the plate 62 firmly against the end ofthe bolt 66.

It will now be observed that the blocks 4% and 5d are securely boltedtogether and are mounted upon the bowl 32. by means of the leaf spring48 in such fashion that the leaf spring, in combination with bolt 66 andspring 65, will substantially eliminate lateral vibration of the blocks44 and Eli. The bolt '66 provides a means for adjusting the location oftrough 52 with reference to the gripping fingers 74-. It has been foundthat the controlled vibration of the blocks, thus brought about, iseffective to impart to the filaments, travelling through the channel -46and onto the concave portion 54 of the block 5%, a motion which islargely axial translation as the result of the vibratory movement of thebowl 32. The horizontal vibration of the block 50 is such that it isjust sufficient to nudge filaments into the trough 52 until it issubstantial ly filled. Thereafter the combination of the horizontalvibration of the block 5'3 and the contact upon filaments already in thetrough 52 is effective to deflect excess filaments across inclinedsurface 56 and onto chute 58.

We now come to the structure employed to pick up filaments from thetrough or reservoir 52. As will be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a slot '72 ismilled in the interior surface of the trough 52 adjacent the endfarthest away from the delivery channel 46. The slot accommodates anassembly of gripping fingers 74 including a pair of finger members 76integral with a common shank portion '77 and accommodating between thema third finger 7 8.

The finger '73 is clamped between a pair of blocks 84 which are parts ofan integral structure including a plate 83. The blocks 84 are providedwith screws 85 which serve to clamp the finger '78 in place, as well aswith a pivot $6 on which the fingers 76 are hung. The upper end of theshank 77 of the fingers 76 is provided with a hook 89 secured to one endof a spring 94) which passes through a bore in the plate 88; the innerend of the :spring 90 is secured to a threaded rod 91 carrying lock nuts92 by means of which the tension on the spring 9! :may be regulated. Theplate 33 is also provided with an opening which receives a pivot pin 94on which is mounted a T-shaped cam member )6 which engages at its centerwith a cam surface 98 cut into the rear portion of the shank 77 of thefinger 76. As the cam 96 moves upwardly and away from the cam surface 98the spring .at the end of the trough .52.

The upper end of the plate 38 is split and bored to receive the lowerend of a rod 1% clamped in the split end of the plate 38 by means of abolt 1&2. The rod res passes through a bushing 106 mounted in aninclined bore in a carriage 16%. The rod 1% is provided with anelongated milled slot 1&8 into which projects a pin Tilt) carriedmounted in a bore in the carriage 104 and passing through acorresponding hole in the bushing 166. The rod flit) projects entirelythrough the carriage 143 i and carries a compression spring 112.interposed between the upper end of the bushing 1% and a cap member 114-mounted on the upper end of the rod 1% and serving to retain a steelball 116 freely rotatable in the cap 114 and bearing against the lowersurface of an L-shaped elongated plate 1-18. The plate 118 is mounted torock upon a shaft 12% journalled at each end in a U-shaped frame member122 secured to the main frame 14. The carriage 10 i is slidably mountedon a pair of parallel rods 124 and 126 both of which are parallel to thelong axis of the trough 521, for instance see FIG. 1.

Adjacent the left hand end of the frame 122 as viewed in FIG. 1 there isa socket 12% serving to receive the upper end of an inclined turnbuckle13%) in the lower end of which is mounted one end of a rock shaft 136which carries a block 132 in which is clamped an elongated finger 134disposed in position to encounter the cam 96 when the carriage andgripping fingers are moved to the extreme right opposite the slot 72 inthe trough 52.

It will now be observed that when the carriage N4 has been moved to theposition shown in FIG. 1 the plate 118 may be moved downwardly to movethe gripping fingers 76 and 78 into the slot '72. The shaft 136 may thenbe rocked to cause the finger 134 to encounter the cam 98 and {lick itupwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4, at which time the fingers areclosed to grip the end of a single filament lying in the trough 52. Aswill later be explained, the plate 118 is then lifted to permit thespring 112 to lift the gripping finger assembly 74 out of the trough 52.The mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 1% will now be described.

Secured to the carriage 1% is a yoke 138 carrying a pivot pin engagingone end of a pull rod 1 4% pivotaliy connected at its other end to avertically disposed arm 3 42 of a bell crank lever pivotally mounted onthe main frame 14 (see FIG. 2). The other arm of the bell crank lever M2is substantially horizontally disposed and connected to the upper end ofa vertically disposed rod 144 extending to the lower portion of themachine, just above the base It), where it is in turn pivotallyconnected to one arm of a bell crank lever 14-3 having a journal 149mounted on a shaft 153. The other arm of the bell crank lever 148carries a roller cam follower 15-9 bearing on the surface of a cam 152fixed to a shaft 154. A tension spring 151 is connected at one end tothe bell crank lever 148 and its upper end to the pedestal 12 thusurging the cam follower into engagement with the cam 152. Through thelinkages just described, rotation of the earn 152 is effective toreciprocate the carriage 1% at desired times and rates.

It will now be appropriate to describe the mechanism utilized foractuation of the plate 118. One end of the rock shaft 12% projectsthrough the frame 122 and carries at its end a slotted plate Hill onwhich is pivotally mounted the upper end of a vertically disposed rod lZpivotally connected at its lower end to one arm 166 of a bell cranklever also journalled on the shaft 153 and having another arm 168terminating in a roller cam follower 1'79 bearing on the surface of thecam 172 also fixed on the shaft 154. A spring 174- is connected at itslower end to the extremity of the arm 166 of the bell crank lever and atits upper end to the base of the main frame 14. Through the linkagesjust described, the plate 113 is rocked to raise and lower the assemblyof gripping fingers 74.

The device has now been described insofar as it relates to the feedingof the filaments into the trough and the removal of the filaments fromthe trough. It remains to describe the transfer of the filaments intothe receiver of the lamp stem assembly machine. The receiver itselfforms no part of the invention and is illustrated here diagrammaticallyat 210 in FIG. 1. For the details of the receiver we refer to theMaloney Patent No. 2,597,354, particularly FIG. 7 thereof. For ourpresent purposes it is sufficient to say that the receiver includes apair of posts 212 each of which is provided at its upper end with agroove dimensioned to accommodate a filament. The assembly upon whichthe posts 212 are mounted is operated in conjunction with a lampstem-assembly machine as described in the Maloney patent, and it is thepurpose of the present invention to provide a suitable device fordepositing filaments into position upon the grooved upper ends of theposts 212.

It will be observed that the grooves in the posts 212 are in alignmentand also in alignment with the long axis of the trough 52. There hasbeen described the mechanism by means of which a filament may be pickedfrom the trough 52 by the fingers 74. After the fingers 74 have beenlifted and the carriage 104 reciprocated to the right as shown in FIG.1, the fingers 74 reach a posi tion opposite the right hand post 212.The plate 118 is thereupon actuated downwardly to lower the fingerassembly toward the right hand post 212, and it is thereupon necessarythat the fingers be opened to release the filament thus conveyed intoposition. To this end the rock shaft 136 is provided adjacent its righthand end with a block 180 (FIG. 7) carrying a finger 182 poised tointercept the T-shaped cam 96 and move it down against the cam surface98 on the shank 77 and the fingers 76 and thereby open the fingers tothe position shown in FIG. 9.

It will now be appropriate to describe the mechanism utilized to actuatethe rock shaft 136 for operation of the cam 96. Fast upon the shaft 136is a slotted lever 186 which is pivotally connected to a rod 188connected at its lower end to one arm of a bell crank lever 190pivotally mounted on a stub shaft secured to the frame 14. The other armof the bell crank lever 190 is pivotally connected to a vertical rod 192connected at its lower end to a bell crank lever 194 having a collar 198journalled on a stub shaft 200 fixed to the pedestal 12. The lever 194also carries a cam follower (not shown) bearing on a cam 196 alsojournalled on the shaft 154. The mechanism just described is effectiveto rock the shaft 136 at timed intervals to actuate the fingers 134 and182 which operate to open and close the gripping fingers 76 and '78.

This case is a division of SN. 689,521, filed Oct. 11, 1957, now Patent3,036,719, issued on May 29, 1962.

What we claim is:

1. A filament feeding machine, comprising a vibratory bowl feederadapted to montain a quantity of filaments and having a deliverychannel, a horizontally disposed block having a trough communicatingwith said delivery channel, the said trough being adapted to receive alimited quantity of said filaments, a spring mounting securing saidblock to said bowl feeder, and means for preloading said spring mountingwhereby said block is subjected to damped horizontal vibrationseffective to advance said filaments into said trough.

2. A filament feeding machine, comprising a vibratory bowl feederadapted to contain a quantity of filaments and having a deliverychannel, a block having a trough communicating with said deliverychannel, said trough being adapted to receive a limited quantity of saidfilaments, a spring mounting securing said block to said feeder, andmeans for preloading said spring whereby said block is subjected todamped vibrations effective to advance said filaments through saidchannel into said trough.

3. A filament feeding machine, comprising a vibratory bowl feederadapted to contain a quantity of filaments and having a deliverychannel, a block having a first trough communicating with said deliverychannel to receive filaments delivered from said feeder and channel, asecond trough adjacent said first trough adapted to receive a limitedquantity of filaments from said first trough, means for returning excessfilaments from said block to said bowl feeder, a spring mountingsecuring said blow to said bowl feeder, and means for preloading saidspring mounting for subjecting said block to damped vibrations.

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 29, 1957

1. A FILAMENT FEEDING MACHINE, COMPRISING A VIBRATORY BOWL FEEDERADAPTED TO MONTAIN A QUANTITY OF FILAMENTS AND HAVING A DELIVERYCHANNEL, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BLOCK HAVING A TROUGH COMMUNICATINGWITH SAID DELIVERY CHANNEL, THE SAID TROUGH BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ALIMITED QUANTITY OF SAID FILAMENTS, A SPRING MOUNTING SECURING SAIDBLOCK TO SAID BOWL FEEDER, AND MEANS FOR PRELOADING SAID SPRING MOUNTINGWHEREBY SAID BLOCK IS SUBJECTED TO DAMPED HORIZONTAL VIBRATIONSEFFECTIVE TO ADVANCE SAID FILAMENTS INTO SAID TROUGH.